Children's Home run by Tulip Care One Limited t/as TulipCare in Kent

Unique reference number SC361090 Inspection date 23/11/2011 Inspector Emeline Evans Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Date of last inspection 23/03/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home provides residential care and support for up to five boys. The home adjoins an independent school, registered for seven male pupils. The school is included in the resources available to young people placed at the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from a structured and supportive environment where consistent boundaries are maintained. Young people receive encouragement to fulfil their potential from a dedicated staff team. Good relationships exist between staff and young people; this gives the young people the confidence to express their feelings and wishes. One young person commented ‘staff go that extra mile or five.’ Generally, young people enjoy being at the home and they take an active role in decision making within a group which enables them to build appropriate relationships with each other. Staff raise issues of equality and diversity with young people and they are guided in considering others differences and views in a positive way.

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Overall effectiveness

A strength of the service is the effective working partnership with a variety of external agencies to ensure the safety of the young people and their individual needs are addressed and met. Effective safeguarding measures ensure the young people’s safety is promoted. Young people say they feel safe and feel they are looked after well. Staff know the young people well and work with them effectively to keep themselves and others safe. Young people benefit from well managed and supported contact with those people who are significant to them and this allows these important relationships to be maintained.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager understands the strengths of the home; however, the development plan has not been updated to indicate the effectiveness of the service provided. The shortfalls identified primarily relate to records that are not fully maintained which have potential to impact on the outcomes for young people. However the manager and staff team see it as a priority to effectively meet the day- to-day needs of the young people placed.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the Statement of Purpose is kept under review and revised as necessary (Regulation 5 (a)) 02/01/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that the written record of any measure of control, restraint or discipline imposed fully complies with regulations (Regulation 17 B (3) (f) (h)) 02/01/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure monitoring visits to the home take place at least once a month and a copy is supplied to HMCI. (Regulation 33 (3) (5)(a)) 25/11/2011

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 evidence how young people's views, wishes and feelings contribute to their placement plans (NMS 1.1)  ensure there is a written development plan in place for the future of the home, which is reviewed annually (NMS 15.2)  ensure the manager monitors all records to identify any patterns or trends in order to improve the quality of care provided. (NMS 21.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s emotional well-being and feelings of self esteem are developing well. This is achieved by the personalised care each young person receives, which promotes all aspects of the individual identity. Young people develop appropriate relationships with people who will be important to them into adulthood, through well supported contact with family and friends. Staff work successfully with external agencies to address young people’s individual needs and promote their physical and emotional well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people adopt healthy lifestyles through encouraged physical activities and a nutritious diet. Young people understand health issues, for example; dietary choices and not smoking. Some young people have joined smoking cessation programmes and taken advice on healthy living. Young people are actively involved in contributing to the menu and negotiate a decision within house meetings. Staff support young people to help in food preparation and this assists in developing independent life skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The team ensure young people are supported in achieving their academic potential. On site education helps some young people to build their confidence they need to support their return to studying within a group setting. Young people’s attendance at school has increased significantly through consistent messages and encouragement from staff, this results in progression and learning. Individual education programmes enable the young people to use their skills and develop their personal interest within the home and garden. Achievement is acknowledged and celebrated which enhances the boys self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy taking part in their preferred leisure and community activities, for example drama club, gym membership and pool. Young people talk enthusiastically about the activities they do and report that they enjoy the opportunities offered. Although, at times, young people can struggle with acquiring new skills that will better equip them for independence; young people are well supported and encouraged to try new things.

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for by a staff team who are experienced and well trained to meet the daily changing needs of the young people. Young people benefit from good quality relationships they have developed with the members of staff working with them. This is validated in the positive regard young people hold towards the staff supporting them and is equally ratified by professionals who are involved with the home.

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Quality of care

House meetings take place regularly giving the young people the opportunity to express their views in the running of the home. The contributions of the young people are discussed within staff meetings and as a result of views expressed changes have been made. For example, young people requested a weekly activity plan in a recent house meeting, this is now taking place and reviewed weekly. Feedback is provided to the young person through key worker sessions or at the next house meeting. Young people know how to make a complaint and opportunities are given to voice their opinions in one-to-one meetings. The young people have confidence that staff will effectively respond to issues they raise.

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Quality of care

Young people have a detailed placement plan that identifies health needs and personal identity, these are supported with individual goals and expected outcomes. Staff are knowledgeable about the needs of the young people. However young people commented that they are not involved in the development of their placement plans and they feel they would benefit from an input to enable their views to be fully acknowledged.

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Quality of care

The arrangements for dealing with medication are safe and effectively managed to ensure young people receive medication important for their health. Support is given to young people to understand the importance of taking medication; this will create opportunities for independence in the future. Health plans, like placement plans, are tailored to individual needs. Young people access health support services such as the child and adolescent mental health services and local healthy living centre. This enables the young person to gain appropriate knowledge and support to help them make informed choices.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy living in a large spacious home that meets their needs. Young people describe the home as ‘comfortable’ and are able to personalise their bedrooms to their own taste. Plans are being prepared to replace the kitchen, which will enhance the living environment. The young people contributed to the development of the garden area by designing and building a pond and have plans for a vegetable patch in the spring; this has enabled the young people to take responsibility and enhance their self-esteem.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people report that they have very good relationships with the staff in the home. Staff provide opportunities for young people to talk with people if they should feel worried or upset. Staff receive appropriate training, and they demonstrate a good awareness of safeguarding procedures. Any matters of a safeguarding nature are dealt with in line with the procedures and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety of all concerned.

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Safeguarding children and young people

If young people leave the home and staff do not know where they are the young person’s well-being is the prime concern. Staff are aware of individual risk assessments and follow clear written procedures on the action to take if a young person should go missing. Staff are pro-active in maintaining frequent contact with the young people to establish their whereabouts. On their return, they are encouraged to speak to staff members focusing on risks and staying safe. The home liaises with the local police to reduce the number of these incidents.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people understand the rules of the home and the sanctions and rewards systems in place. Staff are consistent and clear in their expectation of behaviour in the home. Staff receive appropriate behaviour management training and young people report that they understand why physical intervention may be used. Since, the last inspection, there have been no incidents of physical interventions being used. Staff report that they use sanctions to allow the young people to learn from negative behaviour. However, there is no evaluation of sanctions imposed in the home and therefore staff are unable to monitor the effectiveness for each individual young person.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a very careful selection and vetting of all staff working with young people in the home, this ensures young people are protected from harm. The home has confirmation that the agency contracted to supply them with staff has carried out all the recruitment checks required.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety systems are effective and ensure that young people, staff and visitors are kept safe from risks and hazards. Frequent fire checks and fire evacuations take place to ensure young people are clear on actions to take in the event of a fire or an emergency. One-to-one time with the young people also offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of following the procedures in the home.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are satisfactory .

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from sufficient staffing and effective management enabling them to have the necessary individual attention. The manager works with the on-site education provision and together they ensure the service provides an integrated approach to meet the needs of individuals.

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Leadership and management

The home operates in line with its Statement of Purpose. The statement underpins the work of the home and provides a clear view about its aims, objectives and the service it provides. However, this is not up-to-date and is missing valuable information about the professionals involved in providing a service in the home.

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Leadership and management

There are various systems in place to audit practice in the home, including monthly visits monitoring visits from a designated person and monitoring by the Registered Manager. Although it is clear monitoring takes place by the Registered Manager, the information gathered is not well used to improve the quality of care provided. Some required monthly monitoring visit reports were not available within the home and these have not been sent to Ofsted. There is no up-to-date development plan for the home, therefore it is not clear on the impact improvements have made on the home and the future progression of the service.

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Leadership and management

Staff are subject to a sound induction programme and have their training needs met and are therefore equipped with the necessary skills to support the young people. Staff confirm that regular supervision takes place and they feel supported by the Registered Manager. Regular staff meetings and ‘practice forums’ take place and these cover a range of information including the development of the young people and reviewing of individual strategies.

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Leadership and management

Records are generally well maintained and case records for young people contain a wealth of information about their history and their time in the home; this will be useful to them in the future.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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